Topic #2: Why does John Galt go on strike when the Starnes heirs take over the Twentieth Century Motor Company? Do you think he is right or wrong to start a strike? Explain.…
Robert Frank, a professer at Cornell University, published an article for the New York Times on October 16, 2010. The title of the article was "Income Inequality: Too Big to Ignore". In "Income Inequality: Too Big to Ignore", Frank argues that there are differences in the social classes of the American people and that it is having a negative effect on our economy's growth. Frank explains that middle class citizens are in a struggle to maintain a good financial position. Meanwhile, the upper class citizens are spending copious amounts of money which makes it increasingly more difficult for the middle class to meet their basic needs. He says that the middle class are looking toward upper class citizens, comparing their posesions as well as their financial positions which makes the middle class feel financially unstable.…
Moreover, Mrs. Jill Lepore addresses that "Income inequality is greater in the United States than in any other democracy in the developed world"(Lepore 1)…
"And that opportunity played a critical role in their success" (30 Gladwell). Many times, people will argue that if you want something, you can achieve it simply through hard work; however, that is not always the case. In Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, he explains the significant amount of opportunities that successful people are given. Gladwell uses the example of Joe Flom to explain how timing is a huge factor in success. Early in his career, he was declined by a huge law firm, and had to settle for a firm that was just starting out. Even though this seems like a disadvantage, it turned into an opportunity because the new law firm turned out to grow into one of the best. Another example used in Outliers would…
Lisa Esposito addresses the strong negative connection between poverty and the health of the parents and children affected by it. She blames stress-filled homes, unstable nutrition, and toxic environments among other things as the reason low-income families are unable to keep themselves healthy. She uses facts and expert opinions to try to raise awareness and attempt to push people toward better health. Esposito clearly takes the side of those in poverty by constantly repeating they are forced into their unhealthy lifestyles. For example, Esposito points out the paradox of poor people being increasingly hungry, yet statistics show more obesity present in poor people. Her rebuttal is the fact that often times the cheapest food is usually full…
In “The Pay is Too Damn Low”, by James Surowiecki, he makes a claim saying that the minimum wage is too low regarding low wage jobs like McDonald’s. In response to this article, I completely agree with the author, these types of jobs are not only occupied by teenagers, but also by adults that need jobs. The author made me feel that minimum wage jobs were not made for adults that need to provide for their families, unfortunately though, these are the types of jobs that are always easily available. Surowiecki reasons that the minimum wage needs to be raised so that low wage jobs can turn into the type of employment that can support a middle-class family. The warrant from this article that I pick up is that the current minimum wage is too low.…
In “Income Inequality: Too Big to Ignore”, Frank shows the influences in Americans’ lives in different classes by the disparity between the rich and the poor. He arouses people’s consciousness for the “rising inequality” which is being polarized and has been causing immense damages to Americans, no matter which class they are. It is true that the “Income Inequality” in America is very obvious and affecting more and more people. Indeed, “we should just agree that it’s a bad thing”, however, are we able to do something concrete to deal with it effectively? Is the” rising inequality really required in the name of fairness”? I stand neutral towards Frank’s opinion.…
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”, with these two lines within the Declaration of Independence, America was born as a country of equality for all. However, America today, is a country ridden with disparity and inequality, resulting in glaring divisions amongst the American people. Today, the top 1% owns nearly half of America’s wealth, leaving the remaining 99% with only 50% of America’s wealth. Furthermore, according to the U.S Census, 27% of Black or African American households are living below poverty, while only 10% of White households are living below poverty today.…
“The Gospel of Wealth” was written by Andrew Carnegie in 1889. He was one of the richest men in American during the Gilded Age. Carnegie had a strong belief that wealthy people should spend their money to benefit the society while they were still alive. He said “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.”…
In the essay “Inequality Has Been Going on Forever... but That Doesn’t Mean It’s Inevitable”, David Leonhardt argues that despite the persistent trend of income inequality in the U.S. and throughout history, it is not impossible to change that inequality. He writes that the professor, Thomas Piketty points out the process in which inequality rises and the near inevitability of it. Leonhardt tells of his conversations with Piketty and Piketty’s idea on the possible way to solve inequality, which is to put a global wealth tax that is specifically for income inequality. Leonhardt finds this solution politically improbable and instead advises that the government changes the taxation of the wealthy, healthcare, how we manage the Department of Transportation,…
With nearly 99% of America’s wealth going to the top 1% (or estimated to be by 2016), how can there be even the slightest argument for a peaceful nation where all are intermingled in a way that creates equality? The proven statistic of America’s wealth distribution is not equal to any other developed country of the same stature. There’s even more proof and evidence for the “So clear it shouldn’t have to be proven“ wealth inequality in America. Using a scale called the Gini coefficient to calculate wealth inequality the results were (not exactly) surprising, “[The Gini coefficient is] a measure of inequality in which 0 is perfect equality and 100 perfect inequality. It found that the U.S. had the greatest wealth inequality, with a score of 80.56” (Sherman). A nation with a significant divide such as wealth inequality - and thus the lack of the wealth going to the majority- cannot possibly be perfect, just, or…
Income inequality is something that has been talked about during this political cycle. The gap in United States has risen in the past decades with the upper class brining in even more percentage of the wealth then they previously have in the past. The presidential candidates each have their own tax plan that they believe will help shrink this gap. Marx would say that the proletariat that are making more money for the bourgeoisie and seeing less of the wealth come their way will unite together and revolute in attempt to change the system. The promise in the change in tax plan is a way to keep the lower class laborers or the proletariat optimistic about the future and keep them from revolting. Marx would agree that this works in the short term…
Despite how uneven classes may be it is difficult to find a fair way to distribute wealth fairly. Wealthy and poor people will always coexist but in battle. The government’s in this case acts as a referee. A government must, therefore, regulate the economy so that the power struggle stays relatively even. Those who are considered as poor feel like they are unable to go anywhere that the upper class has. As the rich feel they are helping by using their wealth. Poor versus rich debates will never go away no matter how much change is done to government and society. Poverty however can’t be helped. Today it is possible poverty is what is deserved for laziness in American society. American economy also changes with different periods of history. The Civil War was the spark of industrialization which enhanced the American economy. As a result their became a time in history that would earn many men their fortunes and cost many more men their sanity. Capitalism was the name of the game and due to the drastic labor problems and the social issues because America was developing this system.…
With unreliable data and few resources to gain evidence of a faulty system; American politicians sometimes turn a blind eye or demean the importance of the issue. Obviously unemployment and economic deterioration are serious problems, but they are problems that would be further eased by addressing the current, historic, and growing imbalance in income inequality. The avoidance of such a current dilemma, such as the enormous gap of income, is an issue itself. For the problem to start resolving itself, we must bring the issue into the spotlight to be addressed by the officials who run our country. Income inequality, by contrast, is getting worse over time. Doesn’t it make more sense to focus attention on the problem that’s getting worse rather than all the problems—unemployment, the deficit, limited opportunity—that are not? But in turn, they could be resolved with addressing the prevalent income gap. (Noah 368)…
Equality has been an ongoing issue in every aspect of life. Many have addressed it such as President Obama and Joseph E. Stiglitz, but they both have different views on the subject. President Obama thinks that inequality is slowly coming to end and that King’s dream is becoming a reality. Stiglitz believes that the United States economy is corrupt and extremely unequal. Their opinions may vary, but I think equality amongst all is becoming something…